Portable knockdown cot



July 16, 1963 w. H. COLLINS 3,097,368

PORTABLE xuocxnown COT Filed April 21, 1961 Fig.

We/by H. Col/ins 1N VEN TOR.

2 3 WWW %q,

United States Patent 3,097,368 PORTABLE KNGCKDOWN COT Welhy H. (Zollins, 530 Park St, Imperial, Nebr. Filed Apr. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 104,623 3 Claims. (Cl. -414) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an army-style portable cot which is expressly, but not necessarily, constructed and designed to be used by youngsters, and which has been found to be ideal for use in hotels, motels, at picnic camp sites and also in the home.

There is constant need and use for portable knockdown cots when traveling or perhaps merely visiting particularly where babies or young children are concerned. It was this recognized need which gave rise, so to speak, to the instant desire to advance the cot art by providing one which is suitably designed and adapted for the personal need of a youngster. Looking to this end, and for that matter, to the broader need for more than one cot when traveling conditions require it (for adults, too) a highly practical and useful construction has been evolved and produced. Actual experience with cots constructed in accordance with the present invention has shown the same to be susceptible of meeting the manufacturing needs of manufacturers partly because of the simplicity in construction and design. Not only is the cot, when in use, satisfactorily serviceable, it is extremely light in weight yet durable, easy to store and carry, has no relatively movable wearing parts, is made up of a minimum number of parts, is wholly free from hinged parts and bolts. Then, too, by reason of the fact that the cover or sling is launderable, it may be kept in an acceptabl sanitary state at all times.

It will also be evident from the following disclosure that the construction which is resorted to in devising and perfecting the cot lends the same admirably well as safe and sane support means for children ranging from infants to approximately six years more or less in age. This is to say the cover or canvas sling is not taut but hammock-like in use and therefore promotes safety and convenience. Furthermore, the construction makes for economy for the manufacturer, the retailer and the purchaser and user.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention a cot is provided which is characterized by four part knockdown frame structure supporting an inelastic sling capable of suspending and supporting an occupant, usually in a restful reclining position and having lengthwise openended hems, said frame structure characterized by a pair of light in weight horizontal tubular side rails passing through their respective hems, a pair of tubular legframes spanning the space between the adjacent ends of the cooperating ends of said rails, and means separably joining the leg-portions of the leg frames to the intended cooperating ends of said side rails.

Further novelty is predicated on leg frames at the transverse ends of the overall cot which are U-shaped in end elevation, the main or body portions of the rails or longitudinal frame members being primarily straight. The rails have relatively short downturned terminal ends providing assembling and joining members and the upper ends of the leg portions have socket members and said terminal joining members fitting removably and telescopically into the socket members thus to provide the ideal solution of a problem wherein portability is significant and enhanced by a practical construction and arrangement of component parts which promotes time and labor-saving assembling and disassembling steps.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a portable knockdown youngsters traveling and reclining cot constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing the construction and use thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the same;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed section on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 3 on an enlarged scale and fragmentarily shown.

Reference will be had first to the cover or sling 6, comprising a sheet of launderable cot-canvas which is of requisite size for the user thereof and which is generally rectangular in plan. The transverse end portions are denoted at '8 and 10. The lengthwise or longitudinal marginal portions are provided with lengthwise openended hems 12. More specifically the construction is that shown in FIGURE 4 wherein it will be seen that an edge portion of the canvas is fashioned into a sleeve or tube and is then drawn beneath the underneath side of the canvas cover as at 14 where it is stitched double as at 16 and 1'8. The lightweight metal frame means for supporting the canvas sling is made up chiefly of four component parts; namely, a pair of substantially U-shaped leg frames 20 and a pair of duplicate interchangeable longitudinal frame members or rails 22. The latter parts are of prerequisite length and preferably comprise aluminum tubes the opposite terminal ends of which have center radius bends starting approximately two inches from each end and providing the downbent ends or jointing members 24. The U-shaped leg frames 26 are also made of tubular aluminum stock and each one embodies a substantially straight bight portion 28 which rests firmly on the support surface A. Here the ends, which constitute the arms or limbs are bent vertically or -at right angles as at 30. More specifically these portions 30 are described conveniently as leg portions, which accounts for the expression leg frame. While it might be possible to swage or otherwise form the upper ends of the leg portions to provide quick separable slip joints between the components 24 and 30 it has been found more practical and quite acceptable to use enlarged sleeve-like socket members. In other words each leg portion 30 has a relatively short sleeve 32 the lower end portion of which is suitably joined as at 34 to the leg portion (FIG. 5). Each socket member (coupling, sleeve or connector) is vertically disposed. With this construction the cot can be shipped unassembled except for the duck or canvas sling having the side rails threaded or passed therethrough with the bent portions extending beyond the hems to facilitate making the desired slip joint connections. The upper end of each sleeve socket member has a keeper notch 36 and this serves to accommodate an assembling and binding screw or other equivalent headed fastener 33 which is guided into place and tightened in an obvious manner so that the assembled cot can be handled as a unit.

It should be kept in mind that the invention herein disclosed is easy to handle by reason of the fact that it is light in weight. It can be successfully used as an extra bed for tots and youngsters while traveling or visiting. In fact, it could well be that rather than employ available beds at stopping places such as motels, hotels, and so on precautions parents would prefer to carry along their own youngsters bed (or beds) just to make sure that the welfare of the youngster receives the best of attention. The sling may be made of a special grade or kind of duck and there may be enough slack to provide a hammock-like pocket to guard against the occupant rolling or falling out. Then, too, a slight yield can be incorporated in the frame members or side rails to add to the comfort factor. Generally speaking the cot if designed for use by a youngster would be approximately ten inches high. Experience has shown that the component parts can be assembled or disassembled in a matter of several minutes more or less. The package can be stored in limited space. As a matter of fact the cot is so well balanced and sturdy that it can be successfully used for a sleeping child in a station wagon en route to ones destination.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. 7

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable knockdown cot comprising a four-part knockdown frame structure embodying a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel duplicate vertically positionable leg frames, said leg frames being interchangeable and U-shaped in end elevation and each including a horizontal bight portion adapted to rest on a stationary support surface and relatively short upstanding limb portions at the ends of the bight portion constituting leg portions, a pair of nails extending longitudinally and in parallel relation and coplanar with each other and having lateral downbent end portions, said end portions being joined to said leg portions by separable but securely connectible slip joints, and an inelastic cover spanning the space between the rails and having longitudinal edge portions provided with open-ended hems connected to said rails, said rails passing through and beyond the hems with the downbent end portions beyond the respective open ends of the hems, said cover being of a width slightly less than the normal distance between the respective rails so that when the cot is occupied the flexibility of the rails and the slight surplus in material allows the cover to become slack and assume a hammock-like shape between the side rails with the latter.

2. A portable knockdown frame for a sleeping cot comprising a pair of duplicate U-shaped leg frames each frame being formed from hollow tubular members and having a bight portion and a pair of vertically upstanding end ortions which constitute hollow leg portions,

a sleeve for each leg portion of a cross-sectional diameter greater than said leg portion and having a lower end portion telescoping over and joined to the cooperating end portion of said leg portion, the upper end portions of respective sleeves providing socket members, the upper end of each sleeve having a keeper in one side opening through said upper end, and a pair of canvas sling supporting tubular side rails in parallelism and of duplicate interchangeable coiistmiction and having downbent terminal ends axially aligned with and fitted telescopically and removably into their respective socket members and each having a headed fastener thereon for releasable cooperation with the associated keeper notch.

3. A portable knockdown cot comprising an elongated inelastic sling made of cot-type canvas and of a size and shape capable of suspending and supporting an occupant in a restful reclining position and provided along its lengthwise edges with open-ended hems, a pair of lightin-weight tubular horizontal side rails passing through and beyond their respective hems, a pair of duplicate interchangeable leg-frames each spanning the space between the adjacent ends of the cooperating ends of said rails,

and means separably joining the leg-portions of the leg frames to the intended cooperating ends of said side rails, said leg frames being substantially U-shaped in end elevation, said rails being alike and each rail being primarily straight and having relatively short downbent terminal ends providing duplicate interchangeable assembling and jointing members, the bight portions of said U-shaped leg-frames being adapted to rest on a floor or similar support surface, the upper ends of said leg-portions having socket members, and said jointing members fitting telescopically and removably into their respective socket members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,362 Harper Nov. 20, 1945 2,495,482 Rogartz Jan. 24, 1950 2,507,848 B ashaw May 16, 1950 2,564,915 Nelson Aug. 21, 1951 2,716,443 Laughlin Aug. 30, 1955 2,809,383 Fenner et al Oct. 15, 1957 p V FOREIGN PATENTS 1,019,416 France Oct. 29, 1950 551,828 Belgium Nov. 14, 1956 

1. A PORTABLE KNOCKDOWN COT COMPRISING A FOUR-PART KNOCKDOWN FRAME STRUCTURE EMBODYING A PAIR OF LONGITUDIANLLY SPACED PARALLEL DUPLICATE VERTICALLY POSITIONABLE LEG FRAMES, SAID LEG FRAMES BEING INTERCHANGEABLE AND U-SHAPED IN END ELEVATION AND EACH INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL BIGHT PORTION ADAPTED TO REST ON A STATIONARY SUPPORT SURFACE AND RELATIVELY SHORT UPSTANDING LIMB PORTIONS AT THE ENDS OF THE BIGHT PORTION CONSTITUTING LEG PORTIONS, A PAIR OF RAILS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND IN PARALLEL RELATION AND COPLANAR WITH EACH OTHER AND HAVING LATERAL DOWNBENT END PORTIONS, SAID END PORTIONS BEING JOINED TO SAID LEG PORTIONS BY SEPARABLE BUT SECURELY CONNECTIBLE SLIP JOINTS, AND AN INELASTIC COVER SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE RAILS AND HAVING LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS PROVIDED WITH OPEN-ENDED HEMS CONNECTED TO SAID RAILS, SAID RAILS PASSING THROUGH AND BEYOND THE HEMS WITH THE DOWNBENT END PORTIONS BEYOND THE RESPECTIVE OPEN ENDS OF THE HEMS, SAID COVER BEING OF A WIDTH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE NORMAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE RAILS SO THAT WHEN THE COT IS OCCUPIED THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE RAILS AND THE SLIGHT SURPLUS IN MATERIAL ALLOWS THE COVER TO BECOME SLACK AND ASSUME A HAMMOCK-LIKE SHAPE BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS WITH THE LATTER. 